23. Garret
Chapter 23
T eddy looks up from the phone where he was just talking to his mom. He’s sitting on the bed at our apartment. The moving guys have gotten most everything packed up, but the beds need to be stripped before they can finish that part. Something about bio-hazards.
He looks pale and like he might throw up. Sam rushes around me, wrapping him in his arms and nuzzling against the top of his head, his purr a loud thrum through the room. Teddy sinks into his side, looking like he’s about to cry. Sam’s big hand rubs down the omega’s hair. “It’s ok, Love. Tell me what happened. Are your parents ok? Did something happen on their cruise?” He’s rocking back and forth, dragging the smaller man with him .
Teddy’s voice croaks. He struggles with the words, swallowing a few times before he manages to speak. “No…no, my…my mom’s fine. They…they’re still on vacation. They get home next week. She said she’s taken lots of pictures to send.” He swallows again. “It’s…it’s Brice.”
Sam freezes. Not that I blame him. The whole situation with his brother is fucked up. I get the age difference is a bit of a sticking point, but Joseph’s reaction seems excessive. Teddy’s voice is barely above a whisper when he starts again. “He’s sick. He’s been sick for a while. Mom says that he didn’t even tell Aunt Sandra because they were hoping it was nothing. They didn’t want to worry the rest of the family until they knew what it was…or if there was a way to fix it.”
We met Brice, years ago, but I couldn’t tell you much other than he was sweet to Teddy, petite, even for an omega, with curly brown hair and green eyes. He talked about his pack constantly. It was clear even when we were little how much he loves them all. And the feeling was obviously reciprocated. I remember thinking that was how it should be with alphas and their omega. Even then, I worried that we would never have that because of how different Steve and I are. Of course, that became more apparent later on, but I digress.
Sam starts rocking side to side again, holding Teddy tightly. The omega takes a shaky breath. “It’s gotten bad enough that they didn’t want to keep it from my aunt…he um…he has leukemia. They’re trying to find someone who can donate bone marrow, but it’s really difficult. Full siblings have the highest succ ess rate, but even then it’s not great—not that he has any. Um…Joseph called Aunt Sandy to see if she could get tested for a match. That’s how they found out.”
Big tears roll down his face. “A…apparently being a close relative with the same designation and gender, I have the highest chance of matching.” Teddy swallows convulsively, looking like he might be sick. “That’s why they invited me to stay for my break. Joseph had talked Brice into asking me to get tested to see if I was a match. But then I met Sam the day after I arrived. Mom…um…Mom says that bonded alphas are less likely to let their omegas into what might be a harmful situation, so when they saw me with Sam they…well, Joseph really…he lost it.”
Is this why Joseph was so aggressive when we met? Is it just stress or is he worried I’ll side with Sam? Teddy’s an adult, he can do whatever he wants. I don’t want him hurt, but just the initial test is fairly non-invasive—a swab or a blood draw. Even the extraction process for matches has gotten so much easier in the last few decades. It’s still entirely his choice. But I don’t see why he wouldn’t want to help.
Sam’s low warning growl provides the perfect backdrop to that thought process. Alpha in protective mode. Shit.
Luckily, our landlord takes that moment to knock loudly on the door and call out. “Mr. Carson?” Sam’s head snaps up, his snarl nearly shaking the room as he glares towards the front door of the apartment. He shakes himself for a minute before turning to me.
“Garret, can you go…just…deal with that? I’ll get these sheets pulled off and the mattress put up against the wall. Teddy can call the center and make sure they have boxes available for his stuff. Then I’ll drive him over while you deal with the movers and the truck. Sound good?” I nod dumbly, relieved that at least one of us is able to think clearly.
Teddy stands up and pulls out his phone, searching through the contacts before pushing the button and lifting it to his ear. Sam starts taking pillowcases off, then stops to grumble about needing a bag. Leaving them to it, I make it to the door just as Mr. Wazowski knocks hard, his voice taking on a slight edge of panic as he calls out again. “Mr. Carson, I really need you to answer the door now, please!”
The apology is already on my lips when I turn the knob and let the door swing open. But it’s not Mr. Wazowski’s eyes that meet mine. Our father, Marc—Marcus Carson to his business associates—is standing there, an ugly sneer plastered across his smug face. Mr. Wazowski isn’t so much standing behind him as he is being held by one of my father’s security guards. The old man thrashing against the big arms that are lifting him off the ground.
My teeth grind as my gaze drops to the floor, a show of submission I have no control over with the man before me. “Father, I didn’t think we’d see you here. We’re just cleaning everything out, and then we’ll be on our way.”
His sneer drops into an ugly frown. “Of course I’m here, you idiot. I live in this fucking city. The real question is, what are you doing here? I told you that I’d cut you off. You’d have nothing unless you came home. Have you decided to crawl back like the worthless piece of shit you are? Find a suitable goddamned omega? Has your useless fucking brother come with you? Steven! Get out here, boy!”
The last is yelled loudly over my head, and I cringe involuntarily. I recognize this tone. He’s angry—angry enough to lash out, to cause pain. Even though I know what’s coming, I don’t cower. That always makes it worse.
“Steven isn’t with me, Father. He stayed at home with Kelly, our beta. Sam and Teddy came with me to finish packing up the apartment. Then we’ll leave and you won’t have to see us again.”
Knowing someone is going to hurt you doesn’t mean you’re always prepared for it, my jaw clenches in anticipation of the hit I know is coming, and the bastard doesn’t disappoint. Our father is a large man, bigger than Steve or me. Of course, the way we’ve lived for the last ten years hasn’t exactly encouraged growth, but he’s always been solidly built, and the time we’ve spent away from him hasn’t changed that.
His fist slams into my jaw, the rings on his fingers flaying the skin open, and forcing a grunt of pain from me. The cuts will heal quickly, they always do, but I need to try not to crack any teeth since that would require an actual dentist. A lesson we learned at too young of an age, to be sure.
My body slams into the wall, and while my shoulder leaves a deep indent in the drywall, at least it absorbs some of the impact before my head hits a moment later. A sharp searing pain cuts across my temple, and my legs unhinge, dropping me gracelessly to the floor. Thankfully, I don’t pass out. Losing consciousness around an enraged alpha is never a good option. And his guards are here to help him, as much as act as eyewitnesses for whatever he does or doesn’t want known. They won’t step in to keep him from going too far.
Why am I fighting him on this?
Would he stop if I just agreed to his demands, or has it already gone too far?
Is he going to take his frustration with Steve out on me as well this time?
At least my brother won’t have to be subjected to this anymore.
The snarl that rips through the room leaves me cowering in a heap. The few times I’ve heard it before resulted in trips to the hospital, and neither Steve nor Mom are here to take me this time. My hands try to raise to cover my head, but the room is spinning around me, and my arms feel weak and useless.
My eyes squeeze shut, waiting for the inevitable, but it doesn’t come. Instead, warm arms wrap around me and help me stand. I still feel unbalanced, but the body pressed against mine holds me upright and half leads/half drags me from the room. I try to open my eyes, to see what’s happening around me, but spots dance in front of my vision, and the room spins and tilts.
That’s never a good sign.
“Hold on Garret, I’ve got you. Let’s just get you back to the bedroom, and I’ll call 911. Your head’s bleeding. What the hell happened?” Teddy’s voice is an angry buzz in my head. Each shuffling step ringing in my ears. My skull feels too tight, like it wants to crack open to release some of this godforsaken pressure.
I push against my friend. Dad never let him get too close to this side of things. No witnesses, even a kid. Whenever Dad would get like this, we’d have to stay home for a few days. It was rare enough that it could be explained by the flu or strep or some other childhood sickness. After all, kids get sick all the time. They’re little walking germ factories.
But I don’t want Teddy to get in his sights now either, especially as an adult. I don’t think Dad would hold back on the man he blames for corrupting his son. Which is laughable, I knew Steve was gay before he and Teddy were ever a thing. Our best friend had nothing to do with that, they just happened to fall in love. Correlation doesn’t equal causation, but I doubt Dad can see it that way.
Teddy sits me down on the edge of the bed in my room and comes to stand in front of me. He’s pale and shaking…it’s not a good look on him. “Fuck, Garret. What the actual fuck happened? What the hell did you say to him?”
Ahh, yes, of course.
This is all my fault.
I must have done something to cause this kind of reaction.
I don’t remember what it was, but I’m sure there’s a reason.
My body sways as the room continues to swim, and Teddy puts his warm hand back on my shoulder to keep me still. The other holds his phone as he puts it up to his ear. It’s only a few moments before he starts talking. “Yes, hello. I think I need an ambulance…”
My mind drifts. The loud snarl from earlier is repeated, and I jerk, my mind filled with renewed concern for my friend.
There was someone else here, wasn’t there?
Why can’t I think properly?
Everything buzzes with static, and something warm tickles down the side of my face. My hand lifts to brush it off, but everything feels loopy and uncoordinated. I finally manage to half slap myself in the face to scratch at the maddening itch and my fingers come away wet with blood.
Oh, that’s not good.
Though it might explain some of the spinning and loopiness.
Voices raise in the other room. Yelling, followed by a loud rumbling growl. My stupid wet fingers rub over my eyes, trying to wipe away the spots clouding my vision, but that just makes it worse. Now I’m looking at the world through a film of red. Shit.
Finally, one voice is louder. I know it, even though it sounds unhinged, barely human—primal. “I don’t care who the hell you think you are. If you ever come near my pack again, I will end you. Do you fucking understand me?” It’s not Dad or one of his men. It’s not my landlord, but it’s familiar…Sam?
Why can’t I focus?
My father’s voice is low and sinister but still rings through the apartment. “God, save me from country bumpkins. Do you have the slightest idea who you’re talking to, young man? Do you think, for one fucking second, you can take my sons from me?” The derisive sneer is back in my father’s voice. He likes to make people feel ‘less-than’.
“They’re worthless to you, but I still have some use for them. Hand them over, I’m sure I can make it worth your while.” Sam’s low growl is the only reply, and my father huffs in annoyance before his voice turns cajoling.
“At least give me Garret. You’ll still have the one your omega wants, and isn’t that the important thing? Keeping him happy? You don’t need both of them. What are they good for other than taking up space and costing you money?”
My head is still pounding, and my eyes slide shut. I want a few moments of peace before I have to return to that man. No one would be stupid enough to deny my father what he wants. And I’m sure he’ll offer a good price. It means that Sam’ll have an easier time taking care of the rest of the pack. Steve and Teddy and Kelly.
Shit, Kelly, I’m going to miss her so much. Maybe Teddy will agree to give her a message for me. Tell her I love her. I’ll miss her. I know I’m not worth the effort, but maybe she’ll think of me sometimes. I wish I had something nice to send her, just a little gift to remember me by.
My vision swims again. There aren’t any more voices, just a loud ringing. That stupid tickle is back on the side of my face. Teddy paces back and forth across the room, the phone still held in one hand, and his arm waving with the other. I blink, trying to get rid of all the red, but it seems to be stuck. The room spins, and the floor rushes up to meet me.
My last thought before darkness takes me is that at least Kelly won’t have to see the carpet burn on my face.